Husband and I have been interested in the fluoride controversy since we moved to Eugene, OR about a year ago. Our municipal water is not fluoridated, and natural levels are very low. Husband confirmed this when he called the water company to get their latest data on mineral composition in our city water. He makes his own beer, so these things matter to him on more than one level. Because our water is so low in fluoride and BabyC has a family history of tooth decay (me), we give her the pediatrician-recommended fluoride supplement. You can check the fluoride levels in your water supply using this CDC resource or contact your water company for what is likely a more up-to-date and accurate number.

Anyway, I keep seeing this story about fluoride and IQ posted on FB and other sites around the Internet, so I thought it was worth addressing in a blog post. Naturally, we parents worry about these things. Fluoride lowers children’s IQ? Yikes! What parents would knowingly give their child something that does that? And try to do a little research online about fluoride safety and you’ll find a range of “resources,” most of them with scary headlines like the one above.

Well, there are all sorts of problems with making decisions about your child’s health based on what you read on the Internet, and this story makes a very good case study. Let’s take a closer look. Read more

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Welcome!

I'm Alice Callahan. I'm trained as a research scientist and have a PhD in Nutrition. I use my background in science to investigate parenting questions and find evidence-based answers. No mommy wars here - just science, and empathy and respect for one another.

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